Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 16th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Mar 26 at
4:21PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Snow and hail showers affect most areas in the morning, frequent over western hills. A brief easing, then several hours of rain arrives to Wales, moving north and east into England and Scotland through afternoon and into evening. A notable rise in temperature with arrival of rain. Strong wind all day, a slight easing for a few hours.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Snow/hail showers, least in the east; gales; rain arrives later
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50 to 60mph most of morning. Shifting southwesterly and gradually easing to around 35-40mph for several afternoon hours. Strengthening again into evening, notably gusty to lower slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking with severe wind chill through morning. Conditions improve somewhat afternoon but walking remains arduous with balance challenging, then deteriorating again into evening.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers, easing in strength
Showers through the morning, most frequent west of A9, falling as snow above 300m, later 600m. Some hail mixed in. Showers may briefly ease for a time afternoon, then rain arrives from the southwest (risk some freezing rain at first), spreading widely into evening for several hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearest east in the morning, deteriorating afternoon into evening
Variable cloud comes and goes above 600m over the Monadhliath range, bases nearer 700-800m Cairngorm plateau, the east plateau may be often clear of cloud through morning. Cloud begins filling in from 600-700m up around Drumochter afternoon, gradually spreading widely into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% east for a time, lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, mostly east in the morning, gradually becoming weakened by high cloud. Very good visibility, variably very poor when in snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, slowly rising to 0C afternoon, sharply rising towards 3C around or after dusk, likely rising further overnight. Will feel as cold as minus 18C due to wind chill.
Freezing Level
500m, gradually rising, 800m by afternoon, later sharply rising above the summits with the arrival of rain.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 17th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Mar 26 at
4:21PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 50-70mph. Powerful gusts over high terrain and to some lower slopes too.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mobility widely difficult with significant wind chill; you could be blown over in powerful gusts, in places on lower slopes.
How Wet?
Some drizzle, driest N Cairngorms
Frequent/persistent drizzle from Ben Alter to summits near/east of Drumochter. Mostly just drizzle in the wind elsewhere, driest east of Ben Macdui. Rain approaches Monadhliath late in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Blanket of fog - highest base N Cairngorms and Deeside
Persistent fog, in rain, patches from lower slopes up, but generally cloud base 400 to 600m. Into Deeside and toward Glen More, cloud breaking to around 1000m, and to 750-900m north across Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil, but 30% northernmost hills
Sunshine and air clarity?
Dull and murky, although pockets of sun and very good visibility northern Monadhliath east to near Cairngorm ski-centre and Deeside.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C most of the day, 6C north Cairngorms. Into evening, Monadhliath starts cooling. Feeling like -10C or colder in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 18th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Mar 26 at
4:21PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty west-southwesterly 20-35mph, easing to 15-25mph and shifting westerly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with buffeting and wind chill to start, gradually easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Early low cloud largely clears
Banks of cloud early in the day, mostly below 900m, including into the glens. After sunrise, most cloud will lift upslope for a time, dissipating for largely clear hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some high cloud weakening the sunshine. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, lifting to 3 or 4C, approaching 5C hills accessed from Deeside. Feeling like -10 to -12C in early wind.
Freezing Level
1000m from dawn, lifting to just high summits or above.
Planning Outlook
Areas of low cloud, drizzly rain and strong winds will continue to affect mainly western mountains until Wednesday, the rain at times heavy in western Scotland. Pressure begins to quickly rise on Wednesday, providing fairly widely settled conditions across the country. Some cloud and spotty light rain lingers in north England/south Scotland for a few days, elsewhere becoming mostly sunny. England, Wales, and southwest Scotland seeing milder temperatures, mostly light wind but the occasional stronger breeze. Elsewhere in Scotland stays cooler, some overnight frosts possible under clear-sky nights. Over the weekend, first indications of a cool easterly wind building across all areas, perhaps some periods of rain south, but further detail currently uncertain.